Shloka 43

Devanagari script

शब्दादिष्व् अनुरक्तानि निगृह्याक्षाणि योगवित् कुर्याच् चित्तानुकारीणि प्रत्याहारपरायणः

Transliteration

śabdādiṣv anuraktāni nigṛhyākṣāṇi yogavit kuryāc cittānukārīṇi pratyāhāraparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

The knower of Yoga, devoted to pratyāhāra, should restrain the senses that cling to sound and the rest, and make them obedient to the mind, moving only by its inward command.

Word by Word

• शब्दादिषु: in sounds and the like
• शब्दादिषु: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शब्द-आदि-षु = ‘in sounds etc.’)

• अनुरक्तानि: attached, clinging
• अनुरक्तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + रञ्ज् (धातु) → अनुरक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘अक्षाणि’

• निगृह्य: having restrained
• निगृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• अक्षाणि: the senses
• अक्षाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• योगवित्: knower of yoga
• योगवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (योगं वेत्ति)

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• चित्तानुकारीणि: following the mind
• चित्तानुकारीणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (चित्तम् अनुकुर्वन्ति) qualifies ‘अक्षाणि’

• प्रत्याहारपरायणः: devoted to pratyāhāra (withdrawal)
• प्रत्याहारपरायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्याहार (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रत्याहारे परायणः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Pratyāhāra—withdrawal of senses from sound and other objects

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A yogin should restrain the senses attached to sound and other objects and make them follow the mind’s inward direction through pratyāhāra.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Reduce sensory overstimulation (noise, screens), practice mindful withdrawal, and redirect attention to chosen contemplative focus.

Vishishtadvaita: Sense-control is framed as preparation for single-pointed remembrance of the Lord, consistent with devotion-centered yoga in Vishishtadvaita praxis.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of pratyāhāra in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents pratyāhāra as the deliberate withdrawal of the senses from their objects so they become mind-governed, enabling steady meditation and progress toward liberation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain sense-control as part of Yoga?

He frames the senses as naturally attached to objects like sound; the yogin must restrain them and make them follow the mind’s inward discipline, which is the practical core of pratyāhāra.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

In the Moksha-focused teaching of the Vishnu Purana, inner restraint and purified consciousness are presented as the means by which the seeker becomes fit to realize Vishnu as the supreme ground of liberation.